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NEW WESTMINSTER, BC, Sept. 19 /CNW/ - Starting at 8 a.m. Thursday,
members of the United Steelworkers (USW) will be picketing Western Forest
Products' (WFP) New West sawmill and planer site.
On Thursday and Friday, Maynards Industries Ltd. is conducting an auction
of the mills' equipment, heavy machinery and various supplies.
WFP closed the sawmill and planer mill in February, despite it being the
company's most profitable operation.
The USW has been on strike against WFP since July 21. It is the largest
forest company on the BC Coast.
"We are picketing a struck company and are asking potential buyers to not
enter the premises during our strike," said USW Staff Representative Monty
Mearns. "Western's act of cutting up and auctioning off its most profitable
mills is regarded as a provocation."
USW Local 1-3567, which represented workers at the mills, has requested
that WFP sell the mills to potential buyers and continue operating them on the
premises.
To get to the mill site from north of the Fraser River:
- Go over Queensborough Bridge (91A)
- Turn Right on Howes
- Left Turn on Boyd
- Entrance is the first right (foot of Jardine)